
An exceptional encounter with a great writer of our time.
Interview hosted by Arnaud Laporte
Interview translated from Spanish by Véronique Bourgois
A major writer of contemporary Cuban literature, Leonardo Padura never ceases to explore, through his novels, the tensions and contradictions of his country. Born in Havana in 1955, where he still lives, he has given life to unforgettable figures such as detective Mario Conde, whose investigations provide a sensitive cartography of Cuban society.
Part noir novel, part historical fresco, part social chronicle, his work examines the legacy of the revolution, everyday forms of resistance, fractures and disappointed dreams.
In Aller à La Havane, his latest book, Leonardo Padura returns to the city that inspires all his work. Havana appears as a character in its own right, crossed by its ghosts. It’s a lucid declaration of love for the Cuban capital, whose tenacious vitality never ceases to defy fiction.
Punctuated by readings, film extracts and archive footage, this wide-ranging interview takes us back over the course of his work to discover what makes Leonardo Padura’s literature a way of inhabiting the world.
After the meeting, join us for a signing session at the Mucem Librairie-boutique.
An exceptional encounter with a great writer of our time.
Interview hosted by Arnaud Laporte
Interview translated from Spanish by Véronique Bourgois
A major writer of contemporary Cuban literature, Leonardo Padura never ceases to explore, through his novels, the tensions and contradictions of his country. Born in Havana in 1955, where he still lives, he has given life to unforgettable figures such as detective Mario Conde, whose investigations provide a sensitive cartography of Cuban society.
Part noir novel, part historical fresco, part social chronicle, his work examines the legacy of the revolution, everyday forms of resistance, fractures and disappointed dreams.
In Aller à La Havane, his latest book, Leonardo Padura returns to the city that inspires all his work. Havana appears as a character in its own right, crossed by its ghosts. It’s a lucid declaration of love for the Cuban capital, whose tenacious vitality never ceases to defy fiction.
Punctuated by readings, film extracts and archive footage, this wide-ranging interview takes us back over the course of his work to discover what makes Leonardo Padura’s literature a way of inhabiting the world.


